Ground hole forming device

ABSTRACT

A ground-hole forming apparatus is provided and includes a drivable element, a bulb coupled to an end of the drivable element and including first and second resilient portions, a driving element including first and second ends and being movable by an operator in first and second directions such that the first and second ends drivably impact the first and second resilient portions of the bulb, respectively, to thereby drive the drivable element in the first and second directions, respectively. The first and second resilient portions are configured to absorb and deaden respective impacts thereof with the first and second ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a ground-hole formingdevice and, more particularly, to a ground-hole forming device thatmuffles sound.

In gas detecting operations, it is often necessary to dig holes atvarious places in the ground near where a leak is suspected to haveoccurred. Once the hole is formed and dug out, a gas detecting monitoris placed nearby and identifies whether a leak is present or not bydetermining levels of gases in the surrounding atmosphere. Generally,the hole is formed by an initial boring of a hole through asphalt and/orconcrete and then forcing a long rod into the ground at the hole. Thelatter step is done by placing an end of the rod into the hole andhitting the other end with a hammering device.

The impacts between the hammering device and the end of the rod generatea substantial amount of noise. Indeed, in some cases, the soundsgenerated by the impacts can be above a desired threshold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a ground-hole formingapparatus is provided and includes a drivable element, a bulb coupled toan end of the drivable element, the bulb including first and secondresilient portions and a driving element including first and secondends, the driving element being movable by an operator in first andsecond directions such that the first and second ends drive ably impactthe first and second resilient portions of the bulb, respectively, tothereby drive the drivable element in the first and second directions,respectively. The first and second resilient portions are configured toabsorb and deaden respective impacts thereof with the first and secondends.

According to another aspect of the invention, a ground-hole formingapparatus is provided and includes a first elongate member including atube defining an interior having first and second ends, a first stopperat the first end and a second stopper at the second end, a secondelongate member having third and fourth ends, the second elongate memberbeing movable in first and second directions relative to the firstelongate member and a bulb coupled to the third end and configured toconstrain the third end in the interior. The bulb includes first andsecond resilient portions configured to impact the first and secondstoppers, respectively, to terminate movement of the second elongatemember relative to the first elongate member in the first and seconddirections, respectively.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a ground-hole formingapparatus is provided and includes a drivable element, a bulb coupled toan end of the drivable element and including first and second resilientportions, a driving element including first and second ends and beingmovable by an operator in first and second directions such that thefirst and second ends drive ably impact the first and second resilientportions of the bulb, respectively, to thereby drive the drivableelement in the first and second directions, respectively. The first andsecond resilient portions are configured to absorb and deaden respectiveimpacts thereof with the first and second ends.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a ground-hole forming apparatus inaccordance with embodiments;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the ground-hole formingapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a bore-hole;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of a process of forming a ground-holeat the bore-hole of FIG. 3 using the ground-hole forming device of FIGS.1 and 2; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of a process of removing theground-hole forming device from the ground-hole of FIGS. 4A and 4B sothat the process of FIGS. 4A and 4B can be repeated.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, togetherwith advantages and features, by way of example with reference to thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1-3, a ground-holeforming apparatus 10 is provided and may be used in the formation ofground-holes in the ground at bore-holes that are already formed inasphalt and/or concrete. The ground-hole forming apparatus 10 isprovided with resilient portions that absorb and deaden sounds generatedby impacts between various components of the ground-hole formingapparatus 10 so that the generated sounds may be limited to less thanabout 73 dBA.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ground-hole forming apparatus 10 isprovided and includes a first elongate member 20, a second elongatemember 30 and a bulb 40. The first elongate member 20 includes a tubularelement 21 that has a compliant outer surface, which is appropriate forbeing gripped and manipulated by an operator. The tubular element 21 isformed to define an interior 22. The interior 22 has a first end 221 andsecond end 222, which is opposite the first end 221. The first elongatemember 20 further includes a first stopper 23, which is disposed at orwithin the first end 221, and a second stopper 24, which is disposed ator within the second end 222.

The first stopper 23 may be provided as a full or substantially fullclosure of the tubular element 21 at the first end 221. By contrast, thesecond stopper 24 is provided as a partial closure of the tubularelement 21 that may be screw-coupled or otherwise fastened to the secondend 222 of the tubular element. In the former case, the second stopper24 may be provided with exterior threading 25 that is configured toregister with interior threading 26 disposed on the tubular element 21at the second end 222. With the second stopper 24 provided as a partialclosure of the tubular element 21, the partial closure is formed todefine an opening 240. The second stopper 24 may include a gasket 241disposed at the interior facing walls of the second stopper 24 to definethe opening 240.

The second elongate member 30 is provided as a rod 31 formed of rigidmaterial that has a third end 310, a fourth end 311, which is oppositethe third end 310, a central portion 312, which is interposed betweenthe third end 310 and the fourth end 311 and which may be formed with asimilar shape as the opening 240. More specifically, where the opening240 is substantially circular, the central portion 312 may besubstantially cylindrical.

The second elongate member 30 is movable in first and second directionsrelative to the first elongate member 20. The opening 240 defined by thesecond stopper 24 has a diameter, D1, which may be very slightly largerthan a diameter, D2, of the central portion 312. The second elongatemember 30 is disposed to move in the first and second directionsrelative to the first elongate member 20 such that the central portion312 slides through the opening 240 and, more specifically, the opening240 defined by the gasket 241. That is, the gasket 241 is configured toguide a sliding movement of the central portion 312 of the secondelongate member 30 through the opening 240.

The bulb 40 is coupled to the third end 310 of the rod 31. The bulb 40is disposable in the interior 22 and is thus configured to cooperatewith the first stopper 23 and the second stopper 24 to constrain thethird end 310 of the rod 31 in the interior 22 as well. The bulb 40includes a rigid element 41, which may be formed of a metallic materialand which may be affixed to the second elongate member 30 at the thirdend 310. The bulb 40 further includes a first resilient portion 42,which is formed of a resin-based material and is coupled to a leadingside of the rigid element 41 defined in accordance with the movement ofthe second elongate member 30 relative to the first elongate member 20in the first direction M1, and a second resilient portion 43. The secondresilient portion 43 may be formed of a resin-based material and may becoupled to a trailing side of the rigid element 41 defined in accordancewith the movement of the second elongate member 30 relative to the firstelongate member 20 in the first direction.

It is to be understood that the leading and trailing sides of the rigidelement 41 switch with respect to the direction of movement of thesecond elongate element 30 relative to the first elongate element 20.However, for purposes of clarity and brevity, they will be definedherein with respect to only the first direction of movement M1.

With the first stopper 23 provided as a full or substantially fullclosure of the tubular element 21, the second resilient portion 43cannot pass through the first end 221 during movement of the secondelongate member 30 relative to the first elongate member 20 in thesecond direction M2. That is, the second resilient portion 43 isconfigured to impact the first stopper 23 and to terminate movement ofthe second elongate member 30 relative to the first elongate member 20in the second direction M2 as a result of the impact. Similarly, thefirst resilient portion 42 has a diameter D3, which is larger than thediameter D1 of the opening 240. Thus, with the second stopper 24 beingprovided as a partial closure that permits the movement of the secondelongate member 30 relative to the first elongate member 20 in the firstdirection M1, the first resilient portion 42 cannot pass through thesecond end 222 during movement of the second elongate member 30 relativeto the first elongate member 20 in the first direction M1. That is, thefirst resilient portion 42 is configured to impact the second stopper 24and to terminate movement of the second elongate member 30 relative tothe first elongate member 20 in the first direction M1 as a result ofthe impact.

In accordance with embodiments, the first resilient portion 42 mayinclude a body 420 with a coupling side 421 and an impact side 422. Thebody 420 is formed to define a borehole 423, through which the third end310 of the rod 31 of the second elongate member 30 may extend. In thisway, during assembly of the bulb 40, the first resilient portion 42 maybe slid along the longitudinal length of the second elongate member 30such that the coupling side 421 eventually registers with the leadingside of the rigid element 41 with the impact side 422 facing away fromthe leading side of the rigid element 41. At this point, the couplingside 422 can be screw-coupled or otherwise fastened to the leading sideof the rigid element 41. The impact side 422 has a curved surface thatmay complement a similar curvature in the interior facing surface of thesecond stopper 24. As such, impacts between the impact side 422 and thesecond stopper 24 will be absorbed and deadened by a relatively largesurface area of contact.

In accordance with further embodiments, the second resilient portion 43may include a body 430 with a coupling side 431 and an impact side 432.The body 430 may be monolithic and the coupling side 432 can bescrew-coupled or otherwise fastened to the trailing side of the rigidelement 41. The impact side 432 may have a curved surface that maycomplement a similar curvature in the surface of the first stopper 23.As such, impacts between the impact side 432 and the first stopper 23will be absorbed and deadened by a relatively large surface area ofcontact resulting in a reduced noise level without impacting the holeforming functionality of the ground-hole forming apparatus 10.

With reference to FIG. 3, a process of forming a ground-hole using theground-hole forming apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided. As shown,a bore-hole 100 is initially formed in the asphalt 102 and concrete 104into the underlying ground 106 at a location where a gas leak issuspected of occurring.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, once the bore-hole 100 is formed, thefourth end 311 of the rod 31 of the second elongate element 30 is placedin the bore-hole 100 or on the ground at the surface of the bore-hole100. At this point, the operator of the ground-hole forming apparatus 10grips the first elongate member 20 and forces the first elongate member20 rapidly downwardly towards the ground such that the second elongatemember 30 effectively moves in the second direction relative to thefirst elongate member 20 (see FIG. 4A). The downward movement of thefirst elongate member 20 continues until the second resilient member 43impacts the first stopper 23 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). From this point, theentire ground-hole forming apparatus 10 moves as a single unitdownwardly (see FIG. 4B) due to the inability of the second resilientmember 43 to pass through the first stopper 23 until the initialdownward force applied by the operator dissipates or is ended. Thus, thefourth end 311 is driven into the ground at the bore-hole 100 by adriving distance DR to form the ground-hole 101. In this manner, firstelongate member 20 is configured as a driving element and secondelongate member 30 is configured as a drivable element.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, once the initial downward forceapplied by the operator dissipates or is ended, the operator re-grips(if necessary) the first elongate member 20 and forces the firstelongate member 20 upwardly away from the ground such that the secondelongate member 30 effectively moves in the first direction relative tothe first elongate member 20 (see FIG. 5A). The upward movement of thefirst elongate member 20 continues until the first resilient member 42impacts the second stopper 24 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). From this point, theentire ground-hole forming apparatus 10 moves as a single unit upwardly(see FIG. 5B) due to the inability of the first resilient member 42 topass through the second stopper 24 until the initial upward forceapplied by the operator dissipates or is ended or until the fourth end311 is removed from the lower-most region of the ground-hole 101.

Subsequently, the above-described process may be repeated with thefourth end 311 repeatedly being driven into the ground-hole 101 toincreasing depths. The repetitions continue until a desired depth isreached or until a maximum depth based on the length of the rod 31 isachieved.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A ground-hole forming apparatus, comprising: a drivable element; abulb coupled to an end of the drivable element, the bulb comprisingfirst and second resilient portions; a driving element comprising firstand second ends, the driving element being movable by an operator infirst and second directions such that the first and second ends drivablyimpact the first and second resilient portions of the bulb,respectively, to thereby drive the drivable element in the first andsecond directions, respectively, the first and second resilient portionsbeing configured to absorb and deaden respective impacts thereof withthe first and second ends.
 2. A ground-hole forming apparatus,comprising: a first elongate member, which is movable by an operator infirst and second directions; a bulb comprising resilient portions andbeing constrained to remain in an interior of the first elongate member;and a second elongate member coupled at an end thereof to the bulb, thesecond elongate member being drivable in the first and second directionsby respective impacts between first and second ends of the firstelongate member and the resilient portions of the bulb with the firstelongate member moving in the first and second directions, respectively.3. The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thesecond elongate member is rigid.
 4. The ground-hole forming apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the bulb comprises a rigid element affixedto the second elongate member at the end thereof, the resilient portionsbeing coupled to leading and trailing sides of the rigid element,respectively, which are defined in accordance with movement of the firstelongate member in the first direction.
 5. The ground-hole formingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rigid element comprises ametallic material.
 6. The ground-hole forming apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the first and second resilient portions arescrew-coupled to the rigid element.
 7. The ground-hole forming apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the first and second resilient portionscomprise a resin-based material and curved impact surfaces.
 8. Aground-hole forming apparatus, comprising: a first elongate membercomprising a tube defining an interior having first and second ends, afirst stopper at the first end and a second stopper at the second end; asecond elongate member having third and fourth ends, the second elongatemember being movable in first and second directions relative to thefirst elongate member; and a bulb coupled to the third end andconfigured to constrain the third end in the interior, the bulbcomprising: first and second resilient portions configured to impact thefirst and second stoppers, respectively, to terminate movement of thesecond elongate member relative to the first elongate member in thefirst and second directions, respectively.
 9. The ground-hole formingapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tube comprises a compliantouter surface.
 10. The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim8, wherein the first stopper comprises a closure of the tube.
 11. Theground-hole forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the secondstopper comprises a partial closure of the tube.
 12. The ground-holeforming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second stopper isconfigured to be screw-coupled to the second end of the first elongatemember.
 13. The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the partial closure has a diameter slightly larger than adiameter of a central portion of the second elongate member, which isdefined between the third and fourth ends.
 14. The ground-hole formingapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second stopper comprises agasket configured to guide a sliding movement of the central portion ofthe second elongate member.
 15. The ground-hole forming apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the second elongate member is rigid. 16.The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bulbcomprises a rigid element affixed to the second elongate member at thethird end, the first resilient portion being coupled to a leading sideof the rigid element defined in accordance with the movement of thesecond elongate member relative to the first elongate member in thefirst direction, and the second resilient portion being coupled to atrailing side of the rigid element defined in accordance with themovement of the second elongate member relative to the first elongatemember in the first direction.
 17. The ground-hole forming apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the rigid element comprises a metallicmaterial.
 18. The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the first and second resilient portions are screw-coupled to therigid element.
 19. The ground-hole forming apparatus according to claim8, wherein the first and second resilient portions comprise aresin-based material.
 20. The ground-hole forming apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the first and second resilient portions comprise curvedsurfaces, which are respectively disposed to impact the first and secondstoppers.